Gyratory crusher and method of crushing and grinding ore



April 4, 1967 GYRATORY CRUSHER AND METHOD OF CRUSHING AND GRINDING ORE Filed March 19. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 38 ARROWS INDICATE OIL FLOW Ffi fl INVENTOR. Walter R. Allen ATTORNEYS w. R. ALLEN 3,312,404

April 4, 1967 w. R. ALLEN 3,312,404

GYRATORY CRUSHER AND METHOD OF CRUSHING AND GRINDING ORE Filed March 19, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Walter R. Allen a, Wa 944 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,312,404 GYRATORY CRUSHER AND METHOD OF CRUSHING AND GRINDING ORE Walter R. Allen, 1 .0. Box 523, Leadville, Colo. 80461 Filed Mar. 19, 1964, Ser. No. 353,056 19 Claims. (Cl. 241-215) My invention relates to gyratory crushers which may be used in the treatment of dry or wet feeds. In another aspect, the invention is directed to a novel method of producing a size reduction of coarse solids, such as coarse crushed ores.

Gyratory crushers are used extensively in ore milling and similar operations requiring size reduction of material preparatory to fine grinding or other processing. Such devices employ a gyratory motion to elfect the particle reduction which provides a crushing action achieved primarily as a result of the absorption of impact energy. Such equipment also may attain some size reduction in the material being treated by attrition, as the progressive movement of particles through the treatment zone causes a considerable amount of rubbing and wearing contact.

The present invention provides a number of innovations over prior art practices. United States patents considered as representative of the prior art known to applicant are as follows:

Re. 19,154-Symons 2,223,956-Gruender 2,635 ,8 l 8-Zoerb 2,79 1,3 8 3Kzelgaard 2,901,189Conway et al. 3,009,660-Symons et al.

The usual practice of the prior art is to have a stationary overhanging surface disposed relative to an inner gyratory member having a wear surface disposed relative to the overhanging member so as to provide a gap or passage through which the feed moves in gravitational descent and wherein it is subjected to alternate impact or crushing forces and a spreading effect which permits progressive descent through the treatment zone. In such areas, the wear surfaces of the overhanging memher are in a fixed position, and being subjected to considerable wear, as is the adjacent surface of the gyratory member, the width of the gap between the members changes as the surfaces become worn. Such wear surfaces are provided with adjustable and replaceable liner members and after wear has progressed sufficiently to affect the efficiency of the operation, one of the liners is moved toward the other to compensate for the amount of liner wear, and to duplicate the original optimum spacing or setting when the liners are worn through or develop fissures or cracks, they are replaced with new liners.

One of the innovations of the present invention is the provision of an overhanging member preferably in the form of an inverted bowl which has a circumferential flange on its exterior surface which flange is enclosed by an annular support member, the inner surface of which is maintained in spaced relation to the flange and defines therewith a pressure zone for hydraulic fluid. Means are provided for introducing hydraulic fluid under relatively high pressure into said zone with one or a plurality of minute passages permitting restricted flow of the hydraulic fluid from said zone. A sufficient quantity of the Patented Apr. 4, 1967 ICC.

hydraulic fluid, such as oil, is continuously confined within the pressure zone so as to maintain the flange in spaced separated relation to the enclosing structure, thus producing a floating effect which permits the bowl to rotate as an idler.

The rotor has its mantle portion inclusive of liner members disposed in space-d proximity to liner members on the interior surface of the bowl member. Preferably the liners of both members are specially shaped to provide a gap for gravitational descent of the material under treatment in the first part of which particle reduction is accomplished for the most part by a crushing action and in the final part is accomplished by shear forces imparted to the smaller particles to produce an extremely fine product as a result of attrition grinding. An intermediate zone is provided which is a transition zone in which the particle reduction occurs as a result of both impact crushing and attrition grinding. Because of the floating arrangement of the bowl member, wear on the liners is substantially reduced and is distributed much more uniformly than in the aforementioned prior art devices.

Another innovation of the present invention is the provision for an adjustable mounting of the structure enclosing the flange on the bowl member. Suitable force applying means such as double acting hydraulic cylinders may be connected to the adjustment ring or annulus enclosing the flange to direct its movement upward or downward as required in the operation. This arrangement has several advantages: (1) as initially establishing the optimum gap for the beginning of a period of operation, (2) adjusting the space relationship between head and bowl to compensate for liner wear, (3) as an adjunct to the crushing action imparted by the gyratory member, and (4) as a quick release means for separating the bowl fro-m the gyratory member as when tramp material enters the treatment zone.

Another unique feature of the present invention is the provision of a hemispherical surface on the lower portion of the rotor which is disposed above a spherical supporting surface and defines therewith a pressure-confining zone for hydraulic fluid. Means are provided for introducing hydraulic fluid under pressure into said zone which has one or a plurality of minute openings permit-ting restricted outflow of the fluid so introduced. In this way, a suflicient quantity of hydraulic fluid under pressure is confined in the pressure zone at any given moment to support the hemispherical surface as a floating member.

The sealing of the pressure zone of the rotor also prevents inflow of dust which otherwise would result in excessive wear on the rotating'surface requiring frequent repair and replacement.

The present invention may utilize a novel size reduction method when a wet feed is being treated. As an example, if coarse crushed ore in an aqueous carrier is fed into the treatment zone under a substantial hydrostatic pressure, the moving fluid will supply a downward force to the individual particles which assists in rapidly transporting the particles until they meet with interference against the crushing and grind-ing faces of the opposing liner surfaces. The transporting fluid also serves to move smaller particles out of the way of larger particles and the flow of pulp may be precisely controlled to obtain the optimum percentage of solids in the mixture which is a desirable feature in many processes. Somewhat the same benefits may be realized with dry feed by providing an air pressure differential across the crushing cavity so that air or gas pressure will then supply an additional force to transport particles downward.

For some treatments it will be preferable to shape the liner surfaces so as to apply additional crushing forces and provide a more direct movement to material under treatment; Either the head liners, or the bowl liners, or both, may have spiral or helical waves formed in their wear surfaces. The recessed portions of such pattern will be deeper at the top of the liner and gradually taper to nothing at the point where the spherical grinding surface begins. These recesses define flow paths or courses for the material and when a wet feed is being treated, the sweep of water along these courses will keep the fines well in advance of the coarser particles so that at any impact moment the available working surface will be applying the crushing forces to the coarser material along each flow path. 1

It is an object of my invention to provide simple, durable and efficient crushing and grinding apparatus which provides high capacity treatment with a minimum of wear on crushing surfaces and with a relatively low power requirement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a crusher assembly in which wear may be more uniformly distributed over liner surfaces in the crushing zone, and wherein dismantling and replacement of liners is accomplished in a simple and quick procedure.

A further object'of my invention is to provide incompressible liquid flows for the support of movable parts of the crusher mechanism which will effectively reduce friction and wear, dampen vibrations and eliminate breakage.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novelcombination crushing and grinding method which produces an extra fine and very uniform size product.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a floating and rotatable crushing surface disposed in spaced opposed relation to a gyrating crushing surface which cooperate to produce a nearly continuous flow of material through the machine and wherein components of forces existing in present gyratory crushers, but not performing actual gainful work, are put to beneficial use to drive the bowl in counter-rotation to the head and to thereby produce sliding movement of opposed surfaces in close proximity to accomplish effective attrition grinding and to relieve stresses which are built up in existing machines.

Other objects reside in novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be set forth in the course of the following description.

The practice of my invention will be described with reference. to the accompanying drawings illustrating typical structural arrangements. In the drawings, in the several views of which like parts bear similar reference numerals,

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through a preferred embodiment of crusher assembly with other components of the machine omitted;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary isometric view of another embodiment of bowl and head liners which may be utilized in the practice of my invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in the form of an isometric drawing of the components of the shaft supporting and driving assembly shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section through another embodiment of crusher assembly utilizing a different arrangement for support and movement of the bowl member.

The gyratory crusher assembly shown in FIG. 1 is a preferred embodiment of my invention. As shown, the assembly comprises a casing or framework which has portions adapted to seat on a base structure or foundat-ion (not shown) on which the assembly is supported.

Within the casing, there is an upper cover in the form of an inverted bowl member 11 having a central inlet 12 at its top, and a circumferential flanged portion 13 on its exterior surface. An annular enclosure or adjustment ring 14, preferably of sectional form, encloses flange 13 and defines therewith a pressure-confining zone, inclusive of an end space 15 of substantial extent. Means 16, such as an inlet conduit, delivers a hydraulic fluid under pressure into space 15.

A rotor or head 17, preferably of a special shape, is mounted on a shaft 21 within casing 10, which imparts gyratory motion thereto within the vertical plane of said bowl member 11. The rotor is disposed with its top surface or feed distributor 18 below and adjacent the central inlet 12. Rotor 17 has its lower portion, substantially one-half of its height, of hemispherical shape as shown at 19 and has an upper portion 20 of special shape. The central shaft 21 supports rotor 17 and imparts gyratory movement thereto. The lengthwise axis 23 of shaft 21 describes the surface of two right circular cones about a vertical axis 22 of the assembly with the apex of the generated cones being located on vertical axis 22 at point 24.

Liners 25 cover the inner surface of bowl member 11 between central inlet .12 and the lower edge of bowl member '11 and are secured thereon by bolts 26. Mantle liners 27 cooperate with liners 25 to define a tapered treatment zone or cavity 28 of progressively reducing width in a downward direction. Due to the tilting of the shaft axis 23 with respect to the vertical axis 22 of the assembly, the crushing cavity 28 will be relatively narrow on the side of the bowl nearest which the lower. end of shaft 21 is situated at the moment, and ore or other coarse hard particles, constantly fed into the cavity 2% will be crushed by a series of impacts each time head 17 gyrates and crushing cavity 23 closes. Through any vertical section taken across the entire crushing zone, two crushing impacts will be produced in each complete revolution of shaft 21 about the vertical axis 22.

There are a number of unique features in the design of the liner contours and the support of the bowl which makes the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 very efficient for crushing operations and also make it adaptable as a fine grinding machine. The grinding and crushing functions may be realized simultaneously or independently. In addition, the same structural arrangement may incorporate an automatic release to prevent damage to the apparatus caused by entrance of tramp iron or other foreign objects into the treatment zone.

Approximately the upper half of liners 25 and the ad-' joining portion of lines 27 are surfaces of a frustuni of a right circular cone. The cyclical apposition of these crushing surfaces to each other creates a zone in which crushing of particles is accomplished by a series of blows or impacts. Approximately the lower one-quarter of the mantle liner 27 has a surface which is a segment of a sphere having its center at point 24. The corresponding lower portion of bowl liner 25 (approximately one-quar ter) also is a segment of a sphere with its center on the vertical axis of the bowl but is laterally offset by the amount of the flange clearance or end space 15 from vertical axis 22. In this zone, the fine grinding occurs as a result of attrition grinding produced by movement of the opposed liner surfaces into near adjacency in counterrotation as wellas in vertical dimension.

The intermediate portion between said conical and spherical surfaces functions as a transitional zone in which the spherical grinding surface is gradually transformed into the conical surface of the upper portion of the liners in a smooth merging curve. This intermediate zone provides both impact and attrition grinding. The shaping of the opposed liner members provides a tapered passage or gapof reducing width in a downward direction through which the material passes in gravitational descent while being subjected to progressive impact and attrition grinding. As the material being crushed is reduced in size, it descends progressively through the tapered crushing and grinding zone primarily assisted by the force of gravity acting on the particles and supplemented by centrifugal force and also by mechanical forces imparted by the contour of the liners and the motion of the crushing surfaces relative to each other.

The hemispherical portion 19 of the rotor is held by shaft 21 in close proximity to a spherical bearing surface 31 on a hollow pedestal member 32 in casing 10, and defines therewith a pressure-confining zone for hydraulic fluid through which a hydraulic fluid, such as oil, is circulated under pressure. This fluid discharges from said zone through one or a plurality of minute passages which restrict the flow sufliciently to maintain an incompressible fluid surface in the zone on which the rotor seats in its gyratory movement, thereby avoiding frictional contact which would cause excessive Wear and increase power requirements.

Preferably, the bearing surface 31 has a plurality of shallow recesses 59 which confine the hydraulic fluid and provide incompressible cushions on which the hernispherical surface floats in its gyratory movement. This floating effect in conjunction with the exaggerated spherical shape of the bearing surface restricts and contains the forces which tend to produce climbing of the head, which causes difiiculties in other crusher designs.

'Power to drive the rotor 17 is provided by a central pinion 35 within the pedestal enclosure 32 which is driven by a suitable prime mover (not shown) such as an electric motor, gear motor, gear box, hydraulic motor or the like. As shown in the exploded view, FIG. 3, pinion 35 drives three intermediate idler gears 35a, 36b and 36c rotating on spindles fixed to the pedestal cap 37. These intermediate gears engage an internal gear 38 fitted with close tolerance inside the bore of the pedestal 32. A flat cylindrical plate 39 is bolted to or otherwise secured on the rim of internal gear 38 and is bored to receive a self-aligning bearing 41 mounted eccentrically in cylindrical plate 39. A hardened steel spindle 40 or main shaft-extension is pressed into the bore of selfaligning bearing 41.

Pinion 35 is driven by a suitable prime mover (not shown) and imparts rotation to the internal gear 38 and the cylindrical plate 39 carrying the eccentrically mounted bearing 41. The end of the main shaft extension 40 is made to describe a circular path about the vertical axis 22 and imparts the motion previously described which causes the main shaft axis 23 to describe the surface of two right circular cones about the vertical axis 22 thereby producing the required gyratory movement. This arrangement will permit regulation or selection of the amount of eccentricity of bearing 41, thus controlling the throw or degree of eccentricity.

The adjustment ring 13 is mounted for selective movement to change the position of the bowl liners 25 in the impact and attrition zone. 'Double acting hydraulic cylinders 44 are mounted at spaced intervals on a circumferential flange of the frame acts as a bearing surface for the depending end 14x of adjustment ring 14 to restrict the lateral motion of the adjustment ring during operation and serves as a guide surface during adjustments of its position. The cylinder piston rods 44a have clevis and pin connection with the depending portion 14x of the adjustment ring 14 at the hinge point 47. The positioning of the adjustment ring in a vertical direction affects the relationship of bowl liners 25 to mantle liners 27 and thus product size. 'In addition, the positioning of the adjustment ring also serves to compensate for wear on the liners.

The double acting cylinders also may be operated to impart a reciprocating action to the piston rods 44a, thus alternately raising and lowering the bowl so as to bring additional crushing forces into play. The lateral 45 on frame 10. An extension 46 displacement of bowl 11 also may be controlled by regulating the viscosity of the oil introduced into the space 15. If desired, a circuit including a sensing device and a switch may be provided to detect entry of tramp material into the crushing zone. This control will stop the crusher drive and cut off feed until the machine is cleared by raising the bowl.

When oil is used as the hydraulic fluid introduced into the interior of adjustment ring 14 and between hemispherical portion 19 and spherical bearing surface 31, the restricted discharge of oil may be used as a lubricant as needed. As shown in FIG. 1, oil discharge from ring 14 is directed along the inner face of depending portion 14x and onto bearing surface 4 6 and thence onto the top of the cylinder 44 where it lubricates rod 44a. Excess oil passes into a circumferential oil groove connected to a discharge line 50 and may be conducted to a place of use or disposal. During shutdowns oil will drain from the enclosure permitting flange 13 to seat on ring 14. 1 provide a high pressure oil inlet to raise the flange in the enclosure when starting after shutdowns.

Oil under pressure is introduced between surfaces 19 and 31 through a line 58 into pads 59. Oil from hearing surface 31 is discharged at the top into a circumferential oil groove 51 from which oil grooves 31x directed radially downward conduct the oil to a restricted discharge opening at the bottom from which it passes into the hollow pedestal member 32. Excess oil from the lower half of the bearing surface also discharges into the pedestal. The oil in pedestal 32 lubricates pinion 35, internal gear 3-8, plate 39, gears 35a, 36b and 36c and bearing 41, as well as the inner surfaces of cap 37 before discharge into a line 52 by which it is conducted to a place of use or disposal.

In order to avoid excessive Wear in the gravity feed introduction, I provide a distributor plate 18 of wearresistant material, such as rubber, which is mounted at the upper end of shaft 21 by bolting as shown at 55 and also has recesses for bolts 56 connecting liners 27 to mantle or head 17. Recesses are formed in head 17 to permit placing zinc or other suitable backing material therein as a seat for the liners 27.

The moving parts of the assembly are sealed against entrance of dust. Such seals may be a rubberized material or plastic and as shown at 60, 61, 62 and 63 are flap-like closures. A somewhat more elaborate seal is provided at 64 and utilizes a tubular rubber section clamped by a ring 64x to a rim portion of head 17. The lower part of the tubular portion is stretched over the upper end of the spherical portion of pedestal 32 and slides around the pedestal top as the head rotates.

In a preferred arrangement, ring 14 has its two sections 14m and 14n secured by a bolt 70 and adjustment nut 71 to selectively vary its elevation and change the gap between the liners.

When the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is used to treat a wet feed comprising particles to be crushed mixed with a liquid carrier, such as water, which is delivered to the crusher through inlet 12 under substantial hydrostatic pressure, the moving fluid supplies a downward force to the individual particles and will assist in rapidly transporting the particles until they meet with impedance against the crushing and grinding surfaces of the opposed liners. In this action, the carrier liquid also will sweep smaller particles out of the way of the larger particles, thereby providing a substantially continuous product discharge regardless of the feed rate.

During normal operation in the treatment of both dry and wet feeds, both the head 20 and bowl 11 will rotate in opposite directions. This counter-rotation of the head and bowl assists the grinding and crushing action of the apparatus and results in uniform, symmetrical wear of the liners; and precludes the necessity for uniform distribution of feed, which is a critical control feature with most crushers. In addition, the counter-rotation results in a more nearly continuous flow of material through the machine and thus will prevent choking or packing of the material in the crushing zone. The controllable lateral motion of the bowl provides the clearancenecessary for the fine particles to drop away from the spherical mating liner surfaces which will become highly polished in the attrition grinding zone.

In the event that foreign material, such as tramp iron, is introduced into the crushing cavity, the counterrotation of bowl 1.1 and head 17 will cease. The bowl and head will become integrally locked, after which the bowl 11 will reverse its direction of rotation and both members will rotate together. By means of an appropriate sensing device and switch (not shown), the crusher drives and feed may be shut off and steps taken to clear the machine. This feature constitutes a safety device which is inherent in the crusher assembly design of FIG. 1.

For some crushing and grinding operations, it will be desirable to have the mating surfaces of the liners recessed or grooved to direct the flow of material in the crushing and grinding action. Such an arrangement has been shown in FIG. 2 wherein the bowl liner 25x has a plurality of spiral or helical grooves 66 which are deeper at the top and gradually reduce or taper to nothing at the point where the spherical grinding surface begins. Mantle liners 27x have similar grooves 6-7 which taper in the same way and end at the spherical grinding surface. These waves provide additional forces irnpelling the material through the machine and define flow courses for the descending material.

While FIG. 1 shows a preferred arrangement for supporting the floating bowl, such support may be provided by a mechanical arrangement rather than by incompressible liquid. As shown in FIG. 4, the bowl 11a has a circumferential flange 13a on its exterior surface which is provided with vertically alined grooves or recesses 13b and 130 in its. top and bottom surfaces. A stationary ring member 14a has an overhanging portion 14b and an underhanging portion 140 similarly grooved, and a ring or plurality of balls 73 of elastic material are held within the opposed grooves and provide the floating effect permitting rotation of bowl 11a relative to head 17a. A double acting hydraulic cylinder 44x similar to cylinder 44 of FIG. 1 provides vertical reciprocation and another hydraulic cylinder 74 has a hinged connection '75 with a lower surface of underhanging portion 14c and restricts lateral movement of bowl 11a. A nut 76 and bolt 77 fastening of the members comprising the ring permits selective vertical movement of flange 13a. Although the drive mechanism for the apparatus of FIG. 1 is shown as located at the bottom, the crusher may be designed with the drive motor on top of the head or in the center of the head in order to cut down on head space.

The principle of the floating bowl also may be applied to larger type primary crushers of the gyratory type in order to produce uniform wear of liners and to permit replacement of the bowl and concave crusher liners as a single unit.

If desired, the attrition grinding feature of the described machine may be modified to accomplish blunging, scrubbing or scouring of mineral particles or other similaraparticles. Other changes and modifications may be availed of within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the hereunto appended claims.

I claim:

1. A gyratory crusher comprising a stationary casing adapted to seat on a supporting structure, an inverted bowl member mounted on an upper portion of the casing and having a central inlet portion and a circumferential flange on its exterior surface, stationary means on the casing having surfaces enclosing the flange in close proximity thereto so as to form a pressure-confining zone, means for circulating hydraulic fluid under pressure through said zone so as to maintain the flange in separated relation to the enclosing surfaces, a rotor disposed with its top surface below and adjacent the central inlet and having a lower hemispherical portion and an upper mantle portion, a hollow pedestal member mounted in a fixed position in the casing and having an upper spherical bearing surface enclosing the hemispherical portion of the rotor and defining therewith a pressure-confining zone, means for circulating hydraulic fluid under pressure through said zone so as to maintain the rotor in separated relation to the spherical bearing surface, means in the pedestal for imparting gyratory rotation to the rotor, liner members for the inverted bowl, and mantle liner members for the rotor, the mantle liners being spaced from the bowl liners so as to provide a tapered treatment zone of reducing width in a downward direction whereby solids introduced through the central inlet are subjected to progressive impact and attrition grinding throughout the gravitational descent of material to a point of discharge at the lower end of the treatment zone.

2. A gyratory crusher comprising a stationary casing adapted to seat on a supporting structure, an inverted bowl member mounted on an upper portion of the casing and having a central inlet portion and a circumferential flange on its exterior surface, adjustable means on the casing having surfaces enclosing the flange in close proximity thereto so as to form a pressure-confining zone, means for circulating hydraulic fluid under pressure through said zone so as to maintain the flange in separated relation to the enclosing surfaces, a rotor disposed with its top surface below and adjacent the central inlet and having a lower hemispherical portion and an upper mantle portion, a hollow pedestal member mounted in a fixed position in the casing and having an upper spherical bearing surface enclosing the hemispherical portion of the rotor and defining therewith a pressure-confining zone, means for circulating hydraulic fluid under pressure through said zone so as to maintain the rotor in separated relation to the spherical bearing surface, means in the pedestal for imparting gyratory rotation to the rotor, liner members for the inverted bowl, mantle liner members for the overhanging portion of the rotor, the mantle liners being spaced from the bowl liners so as to provide a tapered treatment Zone of reducing width in a downward direction whereby solids introduced through the central inlet are subjected to progressive impact, and attrition grinding throughout the gravitational descent of material to a point of discharge at the lower end of the treatment zone, and means for moving said adjustable means to selectively vary the gap between the liner members.

3. A gyratory crusher comprising a stationary casing adapted to seat on a supporting structure, an inverted bowl member mounted on an upper portion of the casing and having a central inlet portion and a circumferential flange on its exterior surface, adjustable means enclosing the flange in close proximity thereto so as to form a pressure-confining zone, means for circulating hydraulic fluid under pressure through saidzone so as to maintain the flange in separated relation to the enclosing surfaces, a rotor disposed with its top surface below and adjacent the central inlet and having a lower hemispherical portion and an upper mantle portion, a hollow pedestal member mounted in a fixed position in the casing and having an upper spherical bearing surface enclosing the hemispherical portion of the rotor and defining therewith a pressure-confining zone, means for circulating hydraulic fluid under pressure through said zone so as to maintain the rotor in separated relation to the spherical bearing surface, means in the pedestal for imparting gyratory rotation to the rotor, liner members for the inverted bowl, mantle liner members for the rotor, the mantle liners being spaced from the bowl liners so as to provide a tapered treatment zone of reducing width 9 in a downward direction whereby solids introduced through the central inlet are subjected to progressive impact and attrition grinding throughout the gravitational descent of material to a point of discharge at the lower end of the treatment zone, and hydraulic means acting on the adjustable means for elevating the inverted bowl to permit discharge of tramp material entering the gap between the liner members.

4. A gyratory crusher comprising a stationary casing adapted to seat on a supporting structure, an inverted bowl member supported from an upper portion of the casing and having a central inlet portion and a circumferential flange on its exterior surface, adjustable means enclosing the flange in close proximity thereto so as to form a pressure-confining zone, means for circulating hydraulic fluid under pressure through said zone so as to maintain the flange in separated relation to the enclosing surfaces thereby floating the bowl member for rotation within the enclosure, a rotor disposed with its top surface below and adjacent the central inlet and having a lower hemispherical portion and an upper mantle portion, a pedestal member mounted in a fixed position in the casing and having an upper spherical bearing surface enclosing the hemispherical portion of the rotor and defining therewith a pressure-confining zone, means for circulating hydraulic fluid under pressure through said zone so as to maintain the rot-or in separated relation to the spherical bearing surface, means for imparting gyratory rotation to the rotor, liner members for the inverted bowl, mantle liner members for the mantle portion of the rotor, the mantle liners being spaced from the bowl liners so as to provide a tapered treatment zone of reducing width in a downward direction whereby solids introduced through the central inlet are subjected to progressive impact and attrition grinding throughout the gravitational descent of material to a point of discharge at the lower end of the treatment zone, and means associated with the flange enclosure for directing lateral movements to the flange within the enclosure.

5. In a gyratory crusher, a stationary casing adapted to seat on a supporting structure, an inverted bowl member supported from an upper portion of the casing and having a central inlet portion and a circumferential flange on its exterior surface, means enclosing the flange in close proximity thereto so as to form a pressure-confining zone, means for circulating hydraulic fluid under pressure through said zone so as to maintain the flange in separated relation to the enclosing surfaces thereby permitting rotation of the bow-1 within the enclosure, a rotor disposed with its top surface below and adjacent the central inlet and mounted for gyratory movement within the vertical plane of the bowl, means in the casing for imparting gyr-atory rotation to the rotor, liner members for the invented bowl, mantle liner members for the upper portion of the rotor, the mantle liners being spaced from the bowl liners so as to provide a tapered treatment zone of reducing width in a downward direction whereby solids introduced through the central inlet are subjected to progressive impact and attrition grinding throughout the gravitational descent of material through the tapered treatment zone to a point of discharge at the lower end thereof.

6. In a gyratory crusher, a stationary casing adapted to seat on a supporting structure, a bowl-like member supported from an upper portion of the casing and having a central inlet portion and a circumferential flange on its exterior surface, means enclosing the flange in close proximity thereto so as to form a confined zone in which the flange rotates, supporting means for the flange within the enclosure maintaining the flange in spaced relation to the interior surfaces of the enclosure for rotation therein, a rotor disposed with its top surface below and adjacent the central inlet and mounted for gyratory movement within the vertical plane of the bowl, mean-s in the casing for imparting gyrato-ry rotation to the rotor, liner members for the bowl, mantle liners for the upper portion of the rotor, the mantle liners being spaced from the bowl liners so as to provide a tapered treatment zone of reducing width in a downward direction, whereby solids introduced through the central inlet are subjected to progressive impact and attrition grinding throughout the gravitational descent of material through the tapered treatment zone to a point of discharge at the lower end thereof.

7. The crusher assembly defined in claim 6, in which at least one elastic support maintains the circumferential flange out of contact with enclosing surfaces.

8. The crusher assembly defined in claim 6, in which a plurality of elastic spheres support and maintain the circumferential flange out of contact with enclosing surfaces.

9. In a gyratory crusher, a stationary casing adapted to seat on a supporting structure, an inverted bowl member mounted on an upper ortion of the casing for floating rotation and having a central inlet portion, a rotor disposed with its top surface below and adjacent the central inlet and having a lower hemispherical portion and an upper overhanging portion, a hollow pedestal member mounted in a fixed position in the casing and having an upper spherical bearing surface enclosing the hemispherical portion of the rotor and defining therewith a pressureconfining zone, means for circulating hydraulic fluid under pressure through said zone so as to maintain the rotor in separated relation to the spherical bearing surface, means in the pedestal for imparting gyratory rotation to the rotor, liner members for the inverted bowl, each having an exposed contact surface, and mantle liner members for the overhanging portion of the rotor, each having an exposed contact surface, the mantle liners being spaced from the bowl liners so as to provide a tapered treatment zone of reducing width in a downward direction whereby solids introduced through the central inlet are subjected to progressive impact and attrition grinding throughout the gravitational descent of material through the tapered treatment zone to a point of discharge at the lower end thereof.

10. In a gyratory crusher, a stationary casing adapted to seat on a supporting structure, an inverted bowl member mounted on an upper portion of the casing for floating rotation and having a central inlet portion, a rotor disposed with its top surface below and adjacent the central inlet and having a lower hemispherical portion and an upper overhanging portion, a hollow pedestal member mounted in a fixed position in the casing and having an upper spherical bearing surface enclosing the hemispherical portion of the rotor and defining therewith a pressure confining zone, means for circulating hydraulic fluid under pressure through said zone so as to maintain the rotor in separated relation to the spherical bearing surf: .ce, the spherical bearing surface having spaced rece:.sed portions for confining portions of the fluid flow in supporting relation to the hemispherical portion of the rotor, means in the pedestal for imparting gyratory rotation to the rotor, liner members for the inverted bowl, each having an exposed contact surface and mantle liner members for the overhanging portion of the rotor, each having 'an exposed contact surface, the mantle liners being spaced from the bowl liners so as to provide a tapered treatment zone of reducing width in a downward direction whereby solids introduced through the central inlet are subjected to progressive impact and attrition grinding throughout the gravitational descent of material through the tapered treatment zone to a point of discharge at the lower end thereof.

11. In a gyratory crusher, a stationary casing adapted to seat on a supporting structure, a bowl-like member supported from an upper portion of the casing 'and having a central inlet portion and a circumferential flange on its exterior surface, means enclosing the flange in close proximity thereto so as to form a confined zone in which the flange rotates, supporting means for the flange within the enclosure maintaining the flange in spaced relation to the interior surfaces of the enclosure for rotation therein, means for selectively elevating the flange-supporting means, a rotor disposed with its top surface below and adjacent the central inlet and mounted for gyratory movement within the vertical plane of the bowl, means in the casing for imparting gyratory rotation to the rotor, liner members for the bowl, mantle liners for the upper portion of the rotor, the mantle liners being spaced from the bowl liners so as to provide a tapered treatment zone of reducing width in a downward direction, whereby solids introduced through the central inlet are subjected to progressive impact and attrition grinding throughout the gravitational descent of material through the tapered treatment zone to a point of discharge at the lower end thereof.

12. In a gyratory crusher, a stationary casing adapted to seat on a supporting structure, a bowl-like member supported from an upper portion of the casing and having a central inlet portion and a circumferential flange on its exterior surface, means enclosing the flange in close proximity thereto so as to form a confined zone in which the flange rotates, supporting means for the flange within the enclosure maintaining the flange in spaced relation to the interior surfaces of the enclosure for rotation therein, force-applying means for directing vertical reciprocation to the flange-supporting means, a rotor disposed with its top surface below and adjacent the central inlet and mounted for gyratory movement within the vertical plane of the bowl, means in the casing for imparting gyratory rotation to the rotor, liner members for the bowl, mantle liners for the upper portion of the rotor, the mantle liners being spaced from the bowl liners so as to provide a tapered treatment zone of reducing width in a downward direction, whereby solids introduced through the central inlet are subjected to progressive impact and attrition grinding throughout the gravitational descent of material through the tapered treatment zone to a point of discharge at the lowerend thereof.

13. In a gyratory crusher, a stationary casing adapted to seat on a supporting structure, a bowl-like member supported from an upper portion of the casing and having a central inlet portion and a circumferential flange on its exterior surface, means enclosing the flange in close proximity thereto so as to form a confined zone in which the flange rotates, supporting means for the flange within the enclosure maintaining the flange in spaced relation to the interior surfaces of the enclosure for rotation therein, at least one hydraulic cylinder for directing vertical reciprocation to the flange-supporting means, a rotor disposed with its top surface below and adjacent the central inlet and mounted for gyratory movement within the vertical plane of the bowl, means in the casing for imparting gyratory rotation to the rotor, liner members for the bowl, mantle liners for the upper portion of the rotor, the mantle liners being spaced from the bowl liners so as to provide a tapered treatment zone of reducing width in a downward direction, whereby solids introduced through the central inlet are subjected to progressive impact and attrition grinding throughout the gravitational descent of material through the tapered treatment zone to a point of discharge at the lower end thereof.

14. In a gyratory crusher, a stationary casing adapted to seat on a supporting structure, a bowl-like member supported from an upper portion of the casing and having a central inlet portion and a circumferential flange on its exterior surface, means enclosing the flange in close proximity thereto so as to form a confined zone in which the flange rotates, supporting means for the flange within the enclosure maintaining the flange in spaced relation to the interior surfaces of the enclosure for rotation therein, at least one hydraulic cylinder disposed to resist lateral movement of the flange-supporting means, a rotor disposed with its top surface below and adacent the cen tral inlet and mounted for gyratory movement within the vertical plane of the bowl, means in the casing for imparting gyratory rotation to the rotor, liner members for the bowl, mantle liners for the upper portion of the rotor, the mantle liners being spaced from the bowl liners so as to provide a tapered treatment zone of reducing width in a downward direction, whereby solids introduced through the central inlet are subjected to progressive impact and attrition grinding throughout the gravitational descent of material through the tapered treatment zone to a point of discharge at the lower end thereof.

15. In a gyratory crusher, a stationary casing adapted to seat on a supporting structure, an inverted bowl member supported from an upper portion of the casing and having 'a central inlet portion and a circumferential flange on its exterior surface, adjustable means enclosing the flange in close proximity thereto so as to form a pressureconfining zone, means for circulating hydraulic fluid under pressure through said zone so as to maintain the flange in separated relation to the enclosing surfaces thereby floating the bowl member for rotation within the enclosure, a rotor disposed with its top surface below and adjacent the central inlet and having an upper mantle portion, means for imparting gyratory rotation to the rotor, liner members for the inverted bowl having helical depressions in their wear surfaces, mantle liner members for the mantle portion of the rotor having helical depressions in their wear surfaces, said depressions being deepest at the top and thinning to a terminus above the bot tom of the liners, and the mantle liners being spaced from the bowl liners so as to provide a tapered treatment zone of reducing width in a downward direction whereby solids introduced through the central inlet are subjected to progressive impact and attrition grinding throughout the gravitational descent of material to a point of discharge at the lower end of the treatment zone.

16. In a gyratory crusher, a stationary casing adapted to seat on a supporting structure, an inverted bowl member supported from an upper portion of the casing and having a central inlet portion and a circumferential flange on its exterior surface, adjustable means enclosing the flange in close proximity thereto so as to form 'a pressureconfining zone, means for circulating hydraulic fluid under pressure through said zone so as to maintain the flange in separated relation to the enclosing surfaces thereby floating the bowl member for rotation within the enclosure, a rotor disposed with its top surface below and adjacent the central inlet and having an upper mantle portion, means for imparting gyratory rotation to the rotor, liner members for the inverted bowl, mantle liner members for the mantle portion of the rotor, approximately the upper half of the liners being surfaces of a frustum of a right circular cone, and the mantle liners being spaced from the bowl liners so as to provide a tapered treatment zone of reducing width in a downward direction whereby solids introduced through the central inlet are subjected to progressive impact and attrition grinding throughout the gravitational descent of material to a point of discharge at the lower end of the treatment zone.

17. A gyratory crusher for wet or dry size reduction of solid material comprising a stationary upright housing for progressively passing a flow of solid material, inclusive of an inverted bowl member having a central inlet portion forming an intake of the housing and lower side walls for confining material flow, means inclusive of an outwardly extending circumferential flange on the exterior surface of the bowl member and flange-encompassing means for supporting the bowl member for rotary and lateral movement, a rotor disposed with in the housing and mounted for gyratory rotation on a rotor support means disposed within the housing, said rotor having its top surface below and adjacent said central inlet portion, said rotor and bowl member having outwardly and downwardly inclined facing surface portions defining a material treatment zone with the inclined surface portion of the rotor disposed in underlying relation to the inclined surface portions of the bowl member, a circumferentially disposed liner assembly attached to the inclined surface portion of the rotor, a circumferentially disposed liner assembly attached to the inclined surface portion of the bowl member, means for imparting rotation to the rotor, whereby the outer surfaces of the rotor liner assembly move in close clearance with the facing surfaces of the bowl liner assembly at points in each cycle of revolution, and solids introduced through the central inlet are subjected to a progression of impacts in the upper portion of the treatment zone and substantially continuous attrition in the lower portion of the treatment zone by the gyratory movement of said rotor portion during the gravitational descent of the material to a point of discharge at the lower end of the treatment zone.

18. A gyratory crusher as set forth in claim 17 wherein said flange-encompassing means is adjustably supported 19. A gyratory crusher as set forth in claim 17 wherein the surfaces forming said upper portion of the treatment zone are substantially flat and the surfaces forming the lower portion of said treatment zone are curved.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 19,154 5/1934 Symons 241-30 1,030,194 6/1912 Lieber 241-206 10 1,429,333 9/1922 Fulcher 241205 1,999,756 4/1935 Goldberg 241-209 ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner.

from a portion of the housing to vary the spacing of the 15 D G KELLY Assistant Examiner facing surfaces of said treatment zone. 

17. A GYRATORY CRUSHER FOR WET OR DRY SIZE REDUCTION OF SOLID MATERIAL COMPRISING A STATIONARY UPRIGHT HOUSING FOR PROGRESSIVELY PASSING A FLOW OF SOLID MATERIAL, INCLUSIVE OF AN INVERTED BOWL MEMBER HAVING A CENTRAL INLET PORTION FORMING AN INTAKE OF THE HOUSING AND LOWER SIDE WALLS FOR CONFINING MATERIAL FLOW, MEANS INCLUSIVE OF AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING CIRCUMFERENTIAL FLANGE ON THE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE BOWL MEMBER AND FLANGE-ENCOMPASSING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE BOWL MEMBER FOR ROTARY AND LATERAL MOVEMENT, A ROTOR DISPOSED WITH IN THE HOUSING AND MOUNTED FOR GYRATORY ROTATION ON A ROTOR SUPPORT MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN THE HOUSING, SAID ROTOR HAVING ITS TOP SURFACE BELOW AND ADJACENT SAID CENTRAL INLET PORTION, SAID ROTOR AND BOWL MEMBER HAVING OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY INCLINED FACING SURFACE PORTIONS DEFINING A MATERIAL TREATMENT ZONE WITH THE INCLINED SURFACE PORTION OF THE ROTOR DISPOSED IN UNDERLYING RELATION TO THE INCLINED SURFACE PORTIONS OF THE BOWL MEMBER, A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED LINER ASSEMBLY ATTACHED TO THE INCLINED SURFACE PORTION OF THE ROTOR, A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED LINER ASSEMBLY ATTACHED TO THE INCLINED SURFACE PORTION OF THE BOWL MEMBER, MEANS FOR IMPARTING ROTATION TO THE ROTOR, WHEREBY THE OUTER SURFACES OF THE ROTOR LINER ASSEMBLY MOVE IN CLOSE CLEARANCE WITH THE FACING SURFACES OF THE 